AN appeal has been issued to trace relatives of a Keighley pilot who was killed in a plane crash in Northern Ireland during World War Two.

Wreckage from the crash was recently recovered by aviation archaeologist Jonny McNee, who has been assisted on the project by a group of pupils from a high school in Northern Ireland.

Local landowners and the farming community assisted with the recovery of the World War Two planeLocal landowners and the farming community assisted with the recovery of the World War Two plane (Image: UGC)

The pilot, Petty Officer Douglas David Smith from the 891 Naval Air Squadron, was born on November 20, 1923, and was the son of David and Hannah Jessica Smith of Exley Head in Keighley.

Mr McNee said he was flying a Hellcat aircraft and crashed into the summit of Sawel – the highest peak in the Sperrin Mountains in Northern Ireland - on August 6, 1945.

The Foyle College pupils on the mountain where the place was recoveredThe Foyle College pupils on the mountain where the plane was recovered (Image: UGC)

As part of a project working with Mr McNee, pupils from Foyle College in Londonderry helped remove the port side of the cockpit section, along with the supercharger from the engine, from the remote mountainside.

“These two parts will be dried and preserved,” said Mr McNee.

"Assisted and advised by the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Museum in Yeovilton, we will be getting the cockpit section preserved and repainted into the original wartime FAA camouflage scheme.

"The cockpit will then be displayed in the college.”

The recovered cockpit section with a model Hellcat plane sitting on itThe recovered cockpit section with a model Hellcat plane sitting on it (Image: UGC)

The pupils are seeking help to trace any living relatives of P/O Smith (Serial Number FX 669326).

He is buried in Grave 20 in the Commonwealth War Graves section of St Canice's Church in Eglinton. 

Mr McNee said: “He was with 891 Naval Air Squadron who were training to fly these carrier-based aircraft in anticipation of them being sent to carry on the fight against the Japanese in the Pacific.

“The Japanese surrendered eight days after his death.

“We understand from initial research that is it is likely the pilot was an only child and that his parents moved out of the Exley Head area a year or two after the crash.”

The pupils head back home after recovering the planeThe pupils head back home after recovering the plane (Image: UGC)

Mr McNee added: “The pupils, all aged 16 to 17, have a great interest in their local aviation history.

“The school and its pupils have been undertaking such projects with me for over 10 years - several for BBC programmes such as Digging for Britain.

“All involved in the project are very keen to get in contact with any living relatives of P/O Smith to inform them of this project and if at all possible, to obtain a photo of him which could be displayed next to the recovered cockpit.”

Anyone who can help with the appeal is asked to contact Mr McNee on 0777 330 1212 or email him at jonnymcnee@googlemail.com